Lawyers in Washington

[donttread]

So what is the workable plan to get different people to run for office?

I guess that starts with the parties , including the third parties and with voters considering a diverse makeup in congress when they vote. Especially people who can balance budgets. Or my lottery idea? I suspect planting the seed in young up and comers minds that any profession can be a pathway to office would help. I suppose pre candidate income and wealth are more of a barrier for many other professions however.

[Peter1469]

I guess that starts with the parties , including the third parties and with voters considering a diverse makeup in congress when they vote. Especially people who can balance budgets. Or my lottery idea? I suspect planting the seed in young up and comers minds that any profession can be a pathway to office would help. I suppose pre candidate income and wealth are more of a barrier for many other professions however.

Personal wealth does matter. Congress critters need to have a home in their districts / states and be able to afford living in DC. That is not easy for the vast majority of Americans.

[donttread]

Personal wealth does matter. Congress critters need to have a home in their districts / states and be able to afford living in DC. That is not easy for the vast majority of Americans.

Once they are in I think they are probably OK, but it takes connections etc to get the parties attention. What do freshman congressmen make anyway?

[Peter1469]

Once they are in I think they are probably OK, but it takes connections etc to get the parties attention. What do freshman congressmen make anyway?

Expect for a few leaders, congress-critters get paid $174K.

The Average Joe in Congress (there are 529 of them) gets paid $174,000 per year. But not everyone is average; the speaker of the House gets $223,500 a year, while the majority and minority leaders of both the Senate and the House, along with the President Pro Tempore, get paid $193,400 per year. Not bad, huh?

[donttread]

Expect for a few leaders, congress-critters get paid $174K.

I know and some of them whine that the 174 K ain't enough! A lot of them have other income streams anyway. I'll bet the teacher and SW'er could make do with two places of residence for 174 K.

[DGUtley]

I know and some of them whine that the 174 K ain't enough! A lot of them have other income streams anyway. I'll bet the teacher and SW'er could make do with two places of residence for 174 K.

I think that $174K in DC probably doesn't go to far - especially if you consider that they have to maintain two residences.

[Peter1469]

I know and some of them whine that the 174 K ain't enough! A lot of them have other income streams anyway. I'll bet the teacher and SW'er could make do with two places of residence for 174 K.

Not very easily in the DC area unless you accept a horrible commute. My condo is 2 miles outside of the beltway and it was $300K when I bought it in 2004. I could not afford to maintain another mortgage and I am very close to that congress-critter salary.

[donttread]

I think that $174K in DC probably doesn't go to far - especially if you consider that they have to maintain two residences.

I get what you are saying but that's probably top 10% income so if they want the job let em deal with it. I wonder how many of them rent a studio?

[donttread]

Not very easily in the DC area unless you accept a horrible commute. My condo is 2 miles outside of the beltway and it was $300K when I bought it in 2004. I could not afford to maintain another mortgage and I am very close to that congress-critter salary.

They don't need your condo, they need a place to hang their hat when they are in DC , preferably for only a few years. Another way to handle it might be to offer to deduct some of that salary and provide them a basic one bedroom apartment in DC. Lets say 145 k and the basic or the 174 and rent your own place. How many do you think would take option A?
BTW, do they cover the cost of their own transportation back and forth from home district to DC?

[Peter1469]

They don't need your condo, they need a place to hang their hat when they are in DC , preferably for only a few years. Another way to handle it might be to offer to deduct some of that salary and provide them a basic one bedroom apartment in DC. Lets say 145 k and the basic or the 174 and rent your own place. How many do you think would take option A?
BTW, do they cover the cost of their own transportation back and forth from home district to DC?

A studio apartment (500-700 sq. meters) in a non-bad part of town goes for $1500/mo min.